Athletic girdle



Nov. 21, 1933.

J. L. MONTMARQUET ATHLETIC GIRDLE Filed June 10, 1931,

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 ice UNITED STATES PATENT OF 3 Claims.

This invention relates to athletic apparel, particularly that to be worn by women.

It is an object of my invention to provide a garment to be worn, particularly by women, during occupation in sports, to give them, during such strenuous activity, the requisite freedomoi' the limbs and the rest of the body, and at the same time properly support the abdominal cavity to assure the wearer confidence and freedom from injury during indulgence in such activity.

Any attempts to utilize the present day girdles and abdominal supports during strenuous activity, as thatinvolved in sports, have not benefited the wearer in that they interfere with the freedom of the body and involve the use of elastic elements which fail to give proper support and pressure at the desired portions of the body.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an athletic garment, particularly useful for women engaged in athletic activities, which may be conveniently and comfortably worn, without limiting the movement of the wearer, and which gives the'necessary character of support to'the sub-umbilical abdominal region, and pressure to the groin portion, leaving the limbs and upper umbilical region free and unconfined for proper athletic movement.

It is further contemplated by my invention to provide a garment which will give the requisite pressure and support to the sub-umbilical region and pressure to the groin portion of a manner to leave the limbs and waist of the wearer free from restraint for proper athletic activity, not only useful for such intended purposes but also desirable to hide defects in appearance, due to obesity, especially when the wearers expose themselves for athletic activities, especially swimming or the like.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a garment which will give the requisite pressure and support to the sub-umbilical region and to the groin portion of the wearer, and at the same time provide a garment which prevents unsightliness due to gathering of garments in the crotch adjacent the buttocks during exercising, and further to provide a garment of the character referred to which will assure comfort and freedom from chafing, due to a tendency of garments during activity in athletics to gather in the crotch adjacent the buttocks.

Other objects of my invention therefore reside in the provision of an athletic garment which maintains the apparel of the wearer continuous over the crotch adjacent the buttocks and assures the requisite comfort and support to women ongaged in athletic activity. I To attain these objects and such further obiects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereoflin which Figure 1 is a profile view of a torso of a body, showing my device in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view taken from a direction to the rear of the torso;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my device; Figure 4 is a front plan view of the device, as it appears flattened out;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4. Making reference to the drawing, my device comprises an elastic belt 10, of a width to cover substantially the sub-umbilical region, preferably comprising a front section 11 and a rear section 12, sewn together at 13 and 14, the stitch lines whereof are preferably covered by a stiffening tape 15 and 16. From the frontal medial portion to the rear medial portion of the sections 11 and 12, respectively, there'is connected two triangularly shaped pieces of fabric 17 and 18, 30 respectively, the bases of which. triangular pieces are sewn to the elastic sections l1 and 12, by the stitch lines 19 and 20, respectively, the apices whereof are joined by a narrow band 21. The altitude of the triangular portions is calculated to 5 cooperate with the elastic belt 10, formed by the sections 11 and 12, to snugly fit the groin portion, and the width of the base of the triangular portion 17 at 22 is calculated to fit just between the left and right inferior-spine iliac crest.

I may make sections 17 and 18 of inelastic material, such as canton flannel. However, in order to secure additional'advantages which will now be described, the triangular section 17 is made of fabric such as canton flannel, whereas the rear section 18 is made for a portion of'its length of elastic knitted fabric with the "elastic or grain running in a direction similar to the elastic fabric constituting the belt 10. Distension of the upper portion of the triangular section is in a direction along the belt, or transverse to the body, but is inelastic in a vertical direction when worn.

Though. I have above described the sections 17 and 18 as constituting triangular sections joined at the apices thereof by a narrow band 21, it is preferred that a portion of the rear triangular section 18 be composed, for part of its length only, of elastic fabric, the remainder being of inelastic canton flannel, as shown at the sec- 11g tion.

tion 18, which adjoins the lowermost portion of the rear triangular section, attachment being made by the stitch line 18a. The elastic portion of the rear section constitutes about two-thirds of the length, whereas the inelastic section 18 constitutes about one-third of the triangular rear section or the garment.

The elastic fabric constituting the belt, and the sections ll and 12, and the upper triangular rear portion 18, are made, preferably, of interwoven rubber filament and cotton or silk fabric, and positioned with elastic filaments, as previously in dicated in the horizontal or transverse position. The upper portion 12 and section 18 may be integral, or may constitute two sections stitched to each other, without interfering-with the elastic-' from the elastic webbing constituting the band, giving resilient suspension to the crotch member,

and compensating for any tendency of a move ment of the body to displace the crotch section at the front of thegarinent from its proper posi- The semi-flexible stiffening strips 15 and sition,

Furthermore, making the front triangular section. 17 of inelastic material immediately under the elastic suspension provided by the section 11 of the band, the requisite pressure tending to flatten the abdomen, as well as to the groin portion is thereby provided. Limitation of size of the triangular section 1'? between the inferiorspine iliac crests to the right and left, leaves the limbs free for proper activity.

By enlarging the section'18 as compared with the front section 17,- and making the same for at least two-thirds of its length of elastic mate" rial distensiblein a transverse direction, an add'l- 'tional desirable value is obtained. This construction serves to cover the crotch adjacent the buttocks ofthe wearer to form a continuous covering.-

The movement incident to exercising, such as by the bending of the body in a position shown in Figure2, ordinarily tends to cause a gathering oi the apparel worn by the individual into the crotch portion of the buttocks. By the construction provided, however, distension of the section 18 in a transverse direction occurs, and does not bind the crotch portion to within the crotch of the wearer. This property of the garment to conform itself to the various positions of the wearer, particularly adjacent the buttocks, avoids the N chafing and binding effect tending to cause discomfort to the wearer.

It will further be found that no adjustment of the clothes need be made after vigorous exercise,

when wearing my garment, as aforementioned, with the resilient rear section 18 as provided, and will be found exceedingly desirable when worn by Women in bathing suits, or involved in aquatic activity, and the apparel usually worn under such circumstances. Outer garments which would ordinarily tend to present an un-. sightly appearance when clinging to the body, particularly at the crotch portion adjacent the buttocks, tending to additionally chafe the wearer, are maintained in proper and neat position by the device contemplated by my invention, in addition to providing the comfort due to proper support of the body, by reason of the construction and resiliency of the coordinating parts.

This application is a continuation in part of my application, S1,. N. 457,055, filed May 29, 1930.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ise 1. In apparel of the characterdescribed, comprising a compietely elastic encircling band'of a width confined to the sub umbilical-region, and a diametrically connected crotch portion connected to the lower edgeof "said" band, the front section of said crotch portionbeing formed of inelastic material to cover the region of the groin and extending to the crotch, the'rear section of said crotch portion constituting for amajor part of its length, transversely .*elastic"fabric adapted to continuously cover the rear portion of the crotch, adjacent the buttocks;

2. In apparel of the charactendescribed, a completely encircling band of a width confined to the sub-umbilical region, comprising an elastic webbing material distensible in a direction of the waist of the wearer, a crotch memberarrangedto connect diametrically to said band to a-lower edge of said band; said crotch member consti tuting triangularly formed sections, the front being of inelastic material, the rear beingformed:

of elastic webbing distensible in a direction similar to the band, but otherwise inelastic in a ver-' tical direction.

3. In apparel of the character described; a

completely'encircling band of a width confined to the sub-umbilical region, comprising an elastic webbing material distensible in a direction of the waist of the wearer, a crotch member arranged to connect diametrically to said band to a lower; f; 

